created in Christ Jesus to do good works

I socialized at work today instead of reading my bible.  bbboooooooo.  BUT I'm reading it now and the first verse that stands out is:
ephesians 2:8-10
     For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
so now...I'd memorized the first sentence as a child (like everything except john 3:16 though, I wouldn't remember what book it'd even come from) but holy cow!  why didn't my catechism class tack on that last sentence?!?!  that we were created to do good works -
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and I'm now starting to understand the jews vs gentiles thing.  I think that Jesus is really "our" (like, "our" as in, I'm not a jew) savior.  like, without Jesus the jews were still God's chosen people but because of Jesus we get to be a part of heaven now too...I think.
ephesians 2:12-13
     remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
3:6
     This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
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I don't know what to say about this passage but it strikes a chord:
ephesians 4:18-19
     They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.   Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
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I'm not sure I can abide by this rule of paul as box-o-wine makes my troubles float away most days...maybe someday I can find a way to lay them on God like a good little Christian should...
ephesians 5:11, 18
     Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
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 I cruised through the wives and husbands part.  I agree with it and whatever; just need to find a place that expands on it a little more.  but the children and parents chapter I should read intently.
ephesians 6:4
     Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
I may need help not exasperating my daughter :) hopefully we've now got the training and instruction started.  I have to say -my husband's vast and crazy knowledge of all things lutheran makes me believe (I wasn't necessarily sold before) in parochial school.
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can't pass up the slaves and masters chapter.  I really feel like this pertains to my day job.  and I don't always work as hard as I really could -sigh.
ephesians 6:7-8
     Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
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THE ARMOR OF GOD
I feel like the armor is really this buffer of thought and consciousness.  WHICH I AM TOTALLY WORKING ON :)
ephesians 6:13
     Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
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in conclusion = I really like paul.  I really agree with my bible that his letter to the ephesians is optimistic and encouraging!  and he wrote it in jail...